A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Security Committee during the Cuban Missile Crisis: President John F. Kennedy, (L) Dean Rusk, and Robert McNamara (R) in the White House Cabinet Room.
U.S. National Archives
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U.S. National Archives

Over six decades, the world has struggled to develop atomic power and control nuclear weapons — with mixed results on both counts. Neal Conan hosts a special broadcast on the history of the atomic age, live from the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C.

Guests:

Richard Rhodes, Historian and author of 20 books; a National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb; author of the forthcoming End Game: the Unmaking of the Nuclear Arms Race

General Eugene Habiger, former commander-in-chief of the United States Strategic Command (1996 to 1998); distinguished fellow with the Center for international Trade and Security, University of Georgia

Robert McNamara, former secretary of defense under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson; former president of the World Bank